Ch. 18- 4 Notes

Mrs. Manley

Farmers in Protest

• Farmers begin to join together in groups and associations to fight their problems

• Biggest problem- crops flooded the market (too much supply) with little demand--- low prices

• Expenses are rising! ex)transportation, seed, equipment, etc.

Farm problem

• Farmers blamed problems on:– Railroad companies (high prices)– Eastern Manufacturers (high prices)– Bankers- high interest rates on loans

• Farmers borrow $- seed, equipment & other goods

• After crops sold at low prices- not enough $ to repay loans = farm foreclosure! (lose farm)

Farmers Organize

• National Grange- 1st farmers org.; self-help cooperative. – Offers education– Social gatherings– Cash-only cooperatives – buy at lower prices– Tried to limit RR rates– These cooperatives FAILED! (no $!)– Sets up next group- Farmer’s Alliances

Farmers Alliances

• FA’s- networks of org. of farmers; educate, cooperatives- stores where farmers buy from each other.

• Propose a plan to limit crops in market by govt. storing surplus which could be sold to repay loans

• Fall apart….

Populist Party

• PEOPLE’S PARTY! • Farmer’s Alliances join the P.Party• Populist goals- help the common good! • Populist goals:– Govt. owns RR– Free silver- unlimited production of silver $– Election reform, term limits, secret ballots– Shorter work week; national income tax

Election of 1896• Cleveland- opposes free silver• William Jennings Bryan- Great Commoner- like

free silver• William McKinley- opposes free silver **WINS**• Populists didn’t totally lose! They were able to get: – abandon the gold standard– 8 hr. work day– income tax– election reforms (secret ballot & direct election of

senators